3. The origins of language
*1. Spoken language probably developed
between 100 000 and 50 000 years ago while
writing only dates back to about 5000 years
ago
2. No direct evidence about the development
of speech. A lot of speculation about the origins
of language, but little known about the topic
3. Little physical evidence on language our
ancestors used
4. The origins of language
1. The divine source
2. The natural sound source
3. The social interaction source
4. The physical adaptation source
5. The tool-making source
6. The genetic source
6. 1. The Divine Source
•In most religions, a divine source gives
language to the humans.
•Nearly all divine theories believe that
languages originated from a single source and
are thus monogenetic theories of language
origin.
•Over the ages, people carried out
experiments to rediscover this original, God
given language.
7. The divine source: the first language
•Experiments: If human infants grow up in isolation, they
will automatically begin to use the original God-given
language!??!
•Psammetichus (Egyptian pharaoh) let two newborn
babies grow up in the company of only goats and a mute
shepherd 2500 years ago.
–they are reported to have started saying the Phrygian
(Turkey) word ‘bekos’ (bread) = original language?
–however, it is more likely that the children imitated
the sounds they heard the goats make
•King James of Scotland carried out similar experiment
around 1 500 years ago.
–the children are reported to have started speaking
Hebrew = original language?
8. The divine source: The first language
• BUT: Children discovered living in
isolation do not confirm these findings
but grow up with no language at all.
• Criticism: Divine source is impossible
to prove/disprove and the ‘first
language’ is impossible to reconstruct!!
9. 2. The Natural Sound Source
*Bow- Wow Theory:
• Primitive words started as imitations of the
natural sounds early humans heard around
them (bow-wow theory)
• The imitations of sounds were then used to
refer to the things associated with the
relevant sound (onomatopoeia still exist in
our language today: splash, rattle, boom, ...!)
• For example, when a bird flew by making the
sound ‘coo-coo’, it would be called ‘cuckoo’.
10. • Criticism: how would
soundless things and abstract
concepts have been referred
to??
• Criticism: Language is more
than only a set of names
11. 2. The Natural Sound Source
• Original sounds may have
started as natural cries of
emotion such as pain, anger and
joy;ah, ouch, hey, yay, wow!
(pooh-pooh theory)
• Criticism: The natural cries are produced
with sudden intakes of breath, which is
not the case for ordinary speech!! =>
emotional reactions contain sounds not
otherwise used in speech production.
12.
13. 3. The Social Interaction Source
• Language arose out of the rhythmical grunts of
people working together, involved in physical
effort that has to be coordinated (yo-he-ho
theory)
• Early humans may have developed a set of
grunts, groans and curses used when lifting and
carrying trees/mammoths
• Makes sense as early humans must have lived in
groups, which require some form of organisation
and hence communication to maintain =>
development of language placed in a social
context
14. • Criticism: Apes and other
primates also live in groups
and use grunts etc without
having developed the capacity
for speech!!
15. *4. Physical Adaptation Source
• Transition to upright posture & bipedal
locomotion => front limbs free
16. * Differences between skull of gorilla and
Neanderthal => Neanderthal may have been
able to produce some consonant-like sounds
17. * Fossilised skeletal structures that begin to resemble
modern humans => partial adaptations that appear
relevant for speech => features are more streamlined
compared to other primates
Features themselves may not have triggered speech
but give good indication that the creatures possessing
them were capable of speech
18. 4. Physical Adaptation Source
• Physical features that distinguish humans
from other creatures may have supported
speech production
• Evolutionary development resulted in partial
adaptations making speech possible for early
humans: _Teeth
– Lips
– Mouth
– Tongue
– Larynx and Pharynx
19. • TEETH:
• Upright position, not slanting outwards like those of apes
• Roughly even in height
• Good for grinding and chewing
• Very helpful in making sounds such as ‘f’ or ‘v’
• LIPS:
• More intricate muscle interlacing
• More flexible
• Capable of a wider range of shapes
• Suitable for making sounds such as ‘p’ or ‘b’
Physical Adaptation Source
20. Physical Adaptation Source
• MOUTH and TONGUE:
• Relatively small mouth compared to other
primates: can be opened and closed more
rapidly
• Smaller, thicker and more muscular tongue
that can be used to shape a wide variety of
sounds
• Airway through the nose can be closed off to
create more air pressure in the mouth
21. Physical Adaptation Source
LARYNX and PHARYNX
• Larynx is “voice box” in your throat containing the vocal
folds or vocal chords
• Due to upright position, head moved directly above the
spinal column and larynx dropped to a lower position
• As a result, the pharynx
(cavity above the vocal folds,
acts as resonator) became
longer => increased range and
clarity of sounds
22. 5. Tool Making Source
• HANDS:
• Humans started making tools and manipulating
objects using both hands
• Manual gestures may have been a precursor of
language: oral gesture theory
• Bringing words together like bringing two rocks
together to make a tool
23. Tool Making Source
• BRAIN:
• The functions for object manipulation and for
speaking are very close to each other in the left
hemisphere of the brain (lateralisation) =>
there may have been an evolutionary
connection between the use of tools and the use
of language in early humans
• This theory allows for structural organisation
inherent to all language (even sign languages),
not only articulation of sounds to denote
objects
25. The Genetic Source
• Young babies go through almost automatic
developments: from small brain, higher larynx to
lowering of larynx, standing upright, walking
and talking.
• Even children who are born deaf become fluent
speakers of a sign language??!!! HOW??
claims that human offspring are born with a
special capacity for language (innateness
theory)
• Capacity for language genetically hard-wired
into newborn humans?
26. • This applies to all language in general, not one specific
language
• Crucial mutation in human genetics, special “language
gene” that only humans possess
• This would mean that language did not result from a
gradual change but happened rather quickly as a crucial
genetic mutation (unlike physical adaptation, for example)
• No certainty when this genetic change
might have taken place and how it may
relate to physical adaptation
• If we have a special gene for language, can other creatures
also learn language?
27. *The Origin of Language
Theories Arguments for Arguments against Development
The divine source
(monogenetic)
Suddenly
The natural sound
source (bow-
wow/pooh-pooh)
Existence of
onomatopoeia
Soundless things and
abstract concepts
Produced with
intake of breath
Gradually
The social
interaction source
(yo-he-ho)
Early humans lived
in groups
Other primates also
live in groups and
use grunts
Gradually
The physical
adaptation source
(teeth, lips, mouth,
larynx & pharynx)
There’s evidence for
the evolutionary
changes
These changes
would not
themselves lead to
speech production
Gradually
The tool-making
source (brain)
Accounts for
structural
organisation of
language
Gradually
The genetic source
(innateness theory)
Automatic set of
developments in
young children
Suddenly
